MissionReuniting the returning citizen with God, family and community.

BackgroundThe Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry traces its beginning to 1963 when two volunteers began serving in the Nashville jail. In 1982, Ron Goodman relocated his prison ministry work from Texas to the Nashville area and formed the Nashville Prison Ministry and the Federal Prison Ministry in 1982 under the oversight of the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. In 2013, the ministry became known as the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry, a public non-profit charity with the goal of reaching the incarcerated, returning citizens and their families throughout Tennessee in all fourteen state prisons and jails in all 95 counties.

Impact

We operate a re-entry center where we provide job training, job placement and counseling to our returning citizens. We operate an approved transitional house for 16 men, next door to the reentry center. We also conduct an annual summer camp and mentoring program for children of the incarcerated. We have taught approximately 2,000 students in the past year through classes and correspondence courses. We have expanded our volunteer base to over 500, giving their time in the re-entry center, county jails and prisons. We are able to place 87% of returning citizens in a job within 10 days of completion of our orientation course.

NeedsWith 2.3 million incarcerated in the United States, a 500% increase in the past thirty years, only a collaborative effort of dedicated volunteers will be able to address this societal problem. We are needing collaboration with faith-based organizations, employers, churches, businesses and dedicated volunteers as we provide job training, mentoring, faith-based life-skill classes in jails and prisons. We are needing in-kind donations of furniture and appliances for those who graduate from the transitional duplex. We also accept hygiene items and religious materials for the incarcerated. Direct financial support is needed to help us fulfill our mission.

Other ways to donate, support, or volunteerDonations received through sending a check, online donations, phone donations and fundraising events. We also accept in-kind donations for the re-entry center, the incarcerated and released offenders. Volunteers conduct job skills training life skills training and mentoring at the re-entry center and conduct faith-based classes in Tennessee jails and prisons.

The Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry maintains a commitment to serve the incarcerated throughout the entire state. The majority of volunteers and services, however, are offered in Middle Tennessee.

CEO StatementThis ministry, which had a small beginning in 1963 is now statewide with over 500 volunteers, committed to providing hope to the incarcerated and our returning citizens. We are Tennessee's first statewide ministry that is holistic and inside/out (reaching the incarcerated and assisting them and their families when released). Through the dedicated work of our volunteers, lives are changed, families are reconciled and communities are strengthened.

ExperienceServed as the Pulpit Minister of the Trinity Lane Church of Christ for fifteen years. Began volunteering in prison ministry in 2004 and joined the staff in 2008. Assumed role of Executive Director in 2013. Earned Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Psychology from Freed-Hardeman University (1988), Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) from Middle Tennessee State University (1992), Master of Arts in Religion from Lipscomb University (1992), Master of Divinity from Lipscomb University (2003), Doctor of Divinity from Harding School of Theology (2013). Dissertation: "Transformational Leadership in Developing Collaborative Prison Ministry in Metropolitan Memphis."

Staff

Full Time Staff6

Part Time Staff5

Volunteers500

Contractors0

Retention Rate100%

Plans & Policies

Does the organization have a documented Fundraising Plan?Yes

Does the organization have an approved Strategic Plan?No

In case of a change in leadership, is a Management Succession plan in place?No

TN Prison Outreach Ministry has been previously operating as a program of Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. 2013 financial figures were taken from financial documents provided by the church. 2014 financial information will come from the organization's first Form 990.